After completing a one-year program in Singapore, will I be allowed to work there? How long will the visa allow me to stay for work for a Master's/Diploma?
Yes, but Singapore has no automatic open work visa. Master's graduates from an eligible university get a 1 year Long Term Visit Pass to search for jobs, though you cannot work on it. Diploma holders from private institutions get only a 30 day grace period to find a job offer.
You can work in Singapore after your program, but how you get there depends heavily on your qualification and institution. Singapore does not hand out an automatic post study work visa the way some other countries do, so you need to plan your next step carefully.
Your Path By Qualification
| Qualification | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Master's from an eligible university | A 1 year, non renewable Long Term Visit Pass to search for jobs, no working allowed on it |
| Diploma from a private institution | No job seeking pass, only a short grace period after your student pass ends |
| Employment Pass | For professionals, usually 1 to 2 years initially, minimum salary starting around SGD 5,000 a month |
| S Pass | For mid level skilled staff, minimum salary starting around SGD 3,300 a month, usually up to 2 years |
Your Grace Period After Graduation
When your program ends, your Student's Pass is cancelled, giving you a short window, typically 30 days, to secure a new pass or leave the country, so timing your job search matters a great deal.
My Advice
If you are choosing between institutions, remember that graduating from an eligible autonomous university gives you the extra year long job search pass that private diploma programs do not offer.
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